The byway winds through the heart of the region and connects every major trailhead. Most visitors drive it without knowing it has a name. Here's how to do it as the main event, not the B-roll.
The Hocking Hills Scenic Byway isn't a well-marketed attraction. It doesn't show up on most tourist itineraries. It isn't on the typical first-time-visitor trail list. It is, however, one of the most consistently beautiful drives in Ohio — a roughly 26-mile loop on Ohio Route 374 and Route 664 that passes through the heart of the state park complex, with direct access to every major trailhead and several additional stops along the way.
For visitors with limited mobility, travelers with young children who can't handle long hikes, or anyone who wants to cover the region in a single day without the physical demands of trail-focused touring, the byway is the best answer. This is how to do it well.
Most Hocking Hills itineraries treat driving as logistics — getting from trailhead to trailhead. The byway reframes the drive as the main activity. Which it arguably should be, for a few specific reasons:
The landscape passes right outside the car. Unlike many scenic drives where the highway is set back from the views, the byway runs through the exact same forest as the trails. You see what trail hikers see, just framed differently.
The road itself is characterful. Route 374 is a winding two-lane road with genuine character — moderate grades, tight curves, good pavement, low traffic most of the year. It's popular with motorcyclists and sports-car clubs for a reason. Most of central Ohio's roads are flat and straight; this one isn't.
The CCC-planted corridor. The hemlocks and pines lining much of Route 374 were planted in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The trees are now large enough to form a genuine canopy over the road in sections, creating a green-tunnel effect that changes dramatically by season.
It covers the whole region efficiently. If you drive the full loop (approximately 26 miles with all the connector roads), you pass within walking distance of every major park feature. A full-day byway drive with short stops at each location delivers more of the region than any single hiking day does.
The byway itself is Ohio Route 374, which loops through the core of the state park. It intersects with Route 664, which serves as the main north-south connector between Logan and the state park interior. The standard loop:
Total driving time without stops: approximately 60-75 minutes. With stops at all major sites: a full day (6-8 hours).
First stop if entering from Route 33. Worth 15-20 minutes during the day to walk around the plaza, see the observatory building (usually closed during the day outside program times), and read the interpretive signage. Returns dramatically better value after dark — plan to come back for an evening program if the trip permits.
Park here to access the visitor center, the park lodge (for bathroom breaks, gift shop, food), and the Old Man's Cave trailhead. For byway-focused visitors who don't want to do the full Old Man's Cave loop, a short walk to the Upper Falls overlook takes 10-15 minutes and delivers the iconic view without the full hike.
Parking lot and trailhead. For full-experience visitors, the hike down and back takes 45-60 minutes. For drive-focused visitors, there's a small overlook near the parking area that gives a partial view without the stair descent.
Absolutely essential stop. The paved trail is quarter-mile one-way, wheelchair accessible for most of its length (with some assistance on the final approach). Even visitors not planning any actual hiking can and should walk the Ash Cave trail — the destination delivers on almost no effort.
The 1-mile lower gorge trail is paved and flat, leading to a waterfall at the end of the canyon. Accessible for most visitors. The rim trails (which offer much more dramatic views) require a steep climb and aren't suitable for byway-focused touring.
Slightly more strenuous than Ash Cave (steep stair descent to the cave) but rewarding. The cave is unique — a long corridor with natural window openings — and relatively quick to visit. Budget 30-45 minutes.
The northernmost stop on the byway, and the least-visited of the major park areas. The trail loop involves steep stairs and narrow rock passages — not suitable for limited-mobility visitors. For byway-focused touring, skip the trail and just photograph the overlook area.
Small detour off the byway loop (about 15 minutes off-route). Home to Ohio's largest natural bridge. Short trail — 30-45 minutes for the full walk. Quieter than the main park.
Between the park and Logan. Tasting room, patio, charcuterie. A good lunch or afternoon stop.
The region's main town. 58 West, Brewery 33, Hocking Hills Diner, Motherwell Distilling, Millstone BBQ. Worth 1-2 hours for lunch and wandering.
Spring (April-May): Wildflowers bloom along the roadside. Morning mist can make the green-tunnel sections especially dramatic. Best season for scenic driving overall.
Summer (June-August): Full canopy, deep green. Can be hot in the car between stops — air conditioning recommended.
Fall (mid-October to early November): Peak color. The byway becomes significantly more crowded. Expect traffic delays on weekends. Go midweek if possible.
Winter (December-February): The byway remains open. Road conditions can be tricky after snow or ice. The hemlocks against white create beautiful photography opportunities.
Visitors with limited mobility. The byway puts you within easy walking distance of the most accessible park features (Ash Cave, the Conkle's Hollow lower trail, Rockbridge) without requiring the strenuous hikes that define the rest of the region.
Families with young children. Short walks at each stop, drive time between stops for naps or snacks. Much easier than attempting the full trail system with a 4-year-old.
Older visitors. Seeing Hocking Hills at a more leisurely pace, with car breaks, is genuinely more enjoyable for many older travelers than attempting extensive hiking.
Time-constrained visitors. A day-trip from Columbus that tries to fit in both Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave as proper hikes often ends up rushed. A byway-focused day with short stops delivers more of the region without the time pressure.
Photography-focused visitors. The byway stops let you shoot at multiple locations in a single day without burning energy on trails.
Motorcycle and sports-car enthusiasts. The road itself is the attraction. Curves, grades, low traffic, good pavement.
If you're physically able to hike and the main point of your trip is experiencing the region, the byway is at best a supplement — not a replacement — for trail-based touring. The trails are where Hocking Hills actually delivers. The byway is an excellent alternative when trails aren't the right fit, but it's not a substitute for the full-immersion experience of walking down into the gorges.
The ideal Hocking Hills trip probably combines both: one full trail day (Old Man's Cave through Cedar Falls, or a similar route), plus a half-day byway drive covering the stops you didn't reach on foot.
From Columbus, take US-33 southeast and exit at Route 664 (the same route covered in our Columbus-to-Hocking-Hills post). Follow 664 south into the state park to begin the byway loop.
For visitors planning a multi-day stay with the byway as the first-day activity, base in any of the three main lodging areas: South Bloomingville is closest to the byway's southern leg, Laurelville is closest to the northern leg, and Lake Hope is closest for visitors also interested in that region. The main search has current rental availability across the full network.